Grenades force police station evacuation

VALLINGBY, Sweden, March 8 (UPI) -- Swedish authorities said a police station was evacuated after an 87-year-old man brought in two grenades as part of a countrywide weapons amnesty program.

Residents were allowed to turn in weapons without fear of criminal prosecution and the elderly man showed up with the grenades, the Swedish news agency TT/The Local.se reported Friday.

"The reaction was swift. We evacuated the whole police station and a nearby building was cordoned off," police spokesman Peter Sarman said. "It's only specially trained police officers who can determine whether such grenades are armed or not. We were forced to play it safe."

Sarman said the grenades were determined to be inactive.

A police department Facebook post said anyone else seeking to turn over explosives should not transport them to the stations themselves. Police recommended calling in bomb technicians to get rid of any explosives.

United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services.

With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today's UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security.